CDC looking for providers that are hypertension control champs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now accepting nominees for a program that celebrates hypertension control “champions.” The agency's stated aim is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next two years.

The Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge is designed to spotlight healthcare teams that achieve sustained hypertension control rates of 70% or higher in their patients. The challenge, now in its second year, is presented as a partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Providers wishing to apply for the challenge have until midnight on Oct. 31, 2015, to submit their nominations. Applicants also must be able to provide verifiable high blood pressure control data, and describe how health IT contributed to their success.

The hypertension control challenges is part of the Million Hearts Initiative, which was launched by HHS in 2011 with the overall goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017 through improved education, access to care and prescription adherence.

A Florida nursing home fired one of its nursing assistants earlier this month after she used social media to call for help for the facility in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, according to local reports.

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